Hanna Lundkvist has been thinking about the European Championship in Switzerland ever since an injury crushed her championship dream just a few days before the World Championship 2023. On Friday evening, the two-year wait was finally over when she took her place in Sweden's starting eleven in the European Championship premiere against Denmark (1–0).
It's hard to describe. It's absolutely the biggest thing I've done so far in my career. And a moment I will remember for the rest of my life. Extremely big, says Hanna Lundkvist.
Nervous debutant
And she was not alone in getting an evening to remember. In the 66th minute, Lundkvist was substituted out and Smilla Holmberg came in. The 18-year-old Hammarby talent thus became one of Sweden's youngest championship debutants ever.
Fantastic. This is what you've dreamed of when you've watched them on the couch. Extremely big. I tried to take it in as much as I could and enjoy, says Smilla Holmberg.
She was substituted in when Sweden was leading 1–0. The little more than half an hour that remained of the match became exciting, but the result held.
It was great fun. I tried to enjoy. But it was a bit nervous, we wanted to keep the lead. But very fun. I feel an incredible pride, says Holmberg.
Push each other
For a long time, Hanna Glas was a given on the right in the Swedish backline. She was also often alone as a pronounced right-back in the national team. Now Sweden suddenly has two specialists who are fighting for the same place in the starting eleven.
Hanna Lundkvist is only happy about the competition from Holmberg, who debuted in the A-national team just a few weeks ago.
It's super fun. I'm really happy for Smilla's sake too, super cool to make a championship debut as an 18-year-old. And how she has done it in her three first matches with us, says Lundkvist.
I really think it will help us both, to be able to push each other. I want it to go well for her, she wants it to go well for me, says Hanna Lundkvist.
